"Relations between France and Russia develop and are maintained at the parliamentary level, through executive authorities and, of course, through business," Putin said at a meeting with French Senate President Gerard Larcher.
Larcher has arrived in Moscow to meet with the Russian leadership and to discuss bilateral ties. On Monday, he held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Russian president added that the parliamentary level was the most important for the creation of favorable atmosphere for enhancing bilateral ties, noting that Larcher is known in Russia as a keen supporter of the Moscow-Paris relations development.
Putin stressed that he and his French counterpart Francois Hollande held five meetings and 23 phone conversations in 2015.
